TITLE:
Effect of Follicular Fluid Lactoferrin Level on Oocytes Quality and Pregnancy Rate in Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Cycles
AUTHORS:
Mohamed Hussein Mostafa, Malames Mahmoud Faisal, Noha Refaat Mohamed, Filsan Houssein Idle
KEYWORDS:
Lactoferrin, Infertility, Follicular Fluid, Oocyte Quality
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.9 No.6,
May
31,
2019
ABSTRACT: Assessment of oocyte quality to avoid overproduction
of embryos is now considered an important goal in ICSI cycles. Although in
classic Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) cycles selection is mainly
done for embryos and not for follicles. Follicular fluid and its contents
representing the oocyte environment are now gaining more attention because not
only of its crucial influence on oocyte developments but also due to easy
isolation of follicular fluid with every case of ICSI. By its aspiration during
ovum pick up (OPU). substances isolated from follicular fluid to assess oocyte
quality were in the form of: hormones like, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Anti-mullerian Hormon (AMH), Growth Hormone (GH) etc., growth factors like
Insulin Like Growth Factor (ILGF), proteins and amino acids like Lactoferrin
(LF) which is an iron-binding glycoprotein that was detected in follicular
fluid and was thought to be related to good oocyte quality when present in high
concentration. Objectives: The aim of this study was to detect the possible
effect of follicular fluid lactoferrin on oocyte quality and hence pregnancy
rate in ICSI cycles. Methods: Follicular fluid was obtained from 64
patients undergoing Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure in Ain
Shams University Maternity Hospital. Follicular fluid (FF) was collected at the
time of oocyte harvesting. The lactoferrin concentration in FF was assayed by
ELISA. Results: The mean LF concentration in follicular fluid of the
positive biochemical pregnancy group (0.63 ± 0.17 ng/mL) was not significantly higher than that in the
negative biochemical pregnancy (0.61 ± 0.16 ng/mL). A positive
correlation between a number of mature oocytes and lactoferrin
concentration was not found (r.101). Conclusion: Lactoferrin level in
follicular fluid does not correlate with oocytes quality or pregnancy rate.